What sophomore jinx?
sophomore ballers who have had great rookie years. Don’t tell that to second
year guard RR Garcia, who is picking up the leadership cudgels for the FEU
Tamaraws and carrying the squad scoring-wise.
His efforts haven’t gone
unnoticed.
The sophomore playmaker was named the
Inquirer Sports Player of the Week for his outstanding performances since the
kickoff of the 73rd UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament last July 10.
Garcia averaged 21.5 points in the
back-to-back victories for the Tamaraws, who remain the only squad boasting of a
clean slate at this point in the tournament.
“I just do what is needed for the
team,” Garcia said in Filipino.
The soft-spoken 20-year-old matched
his career high 25 markers in a telling win over defending champions Ateneo,
72-69, last July 11 where he nailed four triples and figured in a crucial
three-point play down the stretch which spurred from right baseline drive to put
them ahead with 1:19 left.
“He’s a complete player,” gloated
head coach Glen Capacio of his 5-foot-11 star guard, who also had another
stellar showing in the win over National U 76-72 where he dropped seven of his
18 points in the payoff period.
Despite playing for a veteran-laden
squad, Garcia is picking things up for FEU amid the disappointing sub par
performances from its senior stringers JR Cawaling and Aldrech Ramos.
“I’m happy that RR is finally
stepping out as the leader of the team. He has served as my coach on the floor,”
added Capacio.
